UNSPSC 50404201: Curly kale

The variety of kale known as curly kale

UNSPSC 50404201 Curly kale, a Commodity code, covers fresh produce procurement by state and local governments, particularly school districts and correctional facilities sourcing vegetables and related fresh items for institutional food service. State and local buyers under this code currently procure fresh produce — including kale, carrots, potatoes, and other vegetables — in bulk quantities for child nutrition programs, institutional meals, and USDA-supported fresh fruit and vegetable initiatives, often bundled into larger produce tenders alongside complementary items. Issuing bodies include school districts (elementary through high school systems), correctional departments, county boards of education, and state nutrition authorities. School districts dominate the activity, with systems ranging from small rural districts to large urban systems procuring produce for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and federally funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP).

Recent activity spans Texas, Georgia, Florida, Connecticut, and Missouri. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has solicited bulk vegetable purchases including carrots (1,200 tons) and white and sweet potatoes for institutional canning and food service. Georgia school districts—Bartow County, Dougherty County, Bryan County, Glynn County, Liberty County, Henry County, Bulloch County, Muscogee County, and Savannah-Chatham County—have posted competitive sealed bids and RFPs for fresh produce spanning 40 to 72 line items per procurement, with delivery to 13 to 60 school sites. Madison Metropolitan School District (Wisconsin) issued RFB 4163 for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks, with approximately 5,900 weekly servings sourced within 400 miles and a 5% preference for Wisconsin-certified diverse-owned vendors, bids due July 29, 2026. Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) sought FFVP produce delivery to 18 elementary sites with a cost-plus-fixed-fee model, proposals due March 11, 2026. Head Start of Greater Dallas issued IFB 26-GP for frozen and fresh produce totaling $969,460.94, bids due June 24, 2026. Northside Independent School District (Texas) solicited fresh produce via RFP 2026-048 for delivery to 117 campuses five days weekly during the school year, proposals due May 7, 2026. Most procurements emphasize domestic sourcing, Buy American compliance, HACCP certification, weekly or twice-weekly delivery, and pricing indexed to USDA market reports or fixed rates, with contract terms typically running July through June aligned to school fiscal years and including renewal options.